Coastal Georgia ran into a tough opponent Friday afternoon, dropping Game 1 of its series against Keiser 11-1 at Alumni Field. The Seahawks, who entered the contest at 40-6, were simply too much to handle on this day, exploding for eight runs in the third inning to put the game out of reach early and hand the Mariners a tough loss to fall to 33-9 on the season.

Coastal Georgia actually showed some early promise, loading the bases in the first inning before being unable to push a run across, and then getting on the board in the second when Kate Owens scored on a wild pitch after doubling to right center to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.

The third inning told a completely different story. Keiser sent ten batters to the plate and scored eight runs on seven hits to flip the game entirely. Genesis Iglesias delivered the knockout blow with a grand slam, and Sarah Phipps added an RBI double in the same frame to make it 6-1. The Seahawks were not done, with a wild pitch and an RBI groundout pushing the lead to 8-1 before the inning was over, chasing Rylee Mills from the circle after just two innings of work.

Keiser added three more in the fourth to set the final margin. Macy Schaaf doubled home a run and Phipps then launched a two-run home run to push the lead to 11-1, putting the game under the mercy rule.

Mills took the loss to fall to 18-3 on the season, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits over two innings. McKenzie Collins and Kate Owens each pitched an inning in relief but could not slow the Seahawk offense. Keiser starter Mackenzie Masternak, who improved to 23-4, was sharp throughout, striking out six over five innings and giving the Mariners very little to work with after the second inning.

Owens and Andrews each had doubles to pace the Coastal Georgia offense, and Emma Jones added a single in what was an otherwise difficult afternoon at the plate.

The series continues later today with Game 2. The Mariners will look to bounce back and even things up.